If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

They would have been placed in the same exact predicament they just faced with Harden's contract. Makes no sense.....

Last edited by PelsFan2313; 10-27-2012 at 11:04 PM.

"I'm not going to allow my putative owner to answer that question, this is an NBA related press conference. Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell have collectively sung their praises of Tom and if uh ESPN has a problem with that tell Mr. Skipper to call me at my office."

Gordon hasn't proven he's carried the load in a meaningful way. He put up big numbers on a bad team and last season played in only 9 games.

You can't measure "carrying the load" quantitatively. Gordon has the mentality that he can put the team on his back and win the game. He takes the shot at the end of the game, and he did a great job of that last year - even though he only had a handful of opportunities. He did it every time though - immediately coming to mind is the Utah game, the Houston game, and the Phoenix game.

I agree that Harden is the better player, but they need balance. They would absolutely suck defensively in the post with out Ibaka. I feel like their hands were tied.

Yeah they do, but I just feel like talent > need. Ibaka is a great shotblocker but is not great in the post. He has a lot of value in this league because of his shotblocking and athleticism, but I feel that his true defensive impact could've been a lot more easily replaced than Harden's offensive production.

OKC was just average on defense last year, while they were ELITE offensively. I think they get worse offensively and Kevin Martin makes them worse defensively too. I don't know, I just really like Harden's game and how efficient he is and I think he's a lot more irreplaceable than Ibaka.

btw. Ryan Anderson is now the official front-runner for 6th man of the year!

You can't measure "carrying the load" quantitatively. Gordon has the mentality that he can put the team on his back and win the game. He takes the shot at the end of the game, and he did a great job of that last year - even though he only had a handful of opportunities. He did it every time though - immediately coming to mind is the Utah game, the Houston game, and the Phoenix game.

Exactly.

Gordon has the lead-dog mentality and he's shown the ability to come through at the end of games. Harden hasn't...he comes after Durant AND Westbrook.

No one has any idea how he'll perform when the defense is zoned in on him only.

I knew this would happen. Didn't realize okc can be this cold. Harden is a fine ball player but not as good as he honks or some Stans think he is. He and EJ are now in similar situations, it would be great to follow how they progress the rest of the year.

I knew this would happen. Didn't realize okc can be this cold. Harden is a fine ball player but not as good as he honks or some Stans think he is. He and EJ are now in similar situations, it would be great to follow how they progress the rest of the year.

You can't measure "carrying the load" quantitatively. Gordon has the mentality that he can put the team on his back and win the game. He takes the shot at the end of the game, and he did a great job of that last year - even though he only had a handful of opportunities. He did it every time though - immediately coming to mind is the Utah game, the Houston game, and the Phoenix game.

Those two games alone showed he can be very CP3-esque in carrying a team.

For those of you saying OKC will lose defense by playing Martin instead of Harden: they are equally bad defenders. Lamb is probably a better defender than either and Martin has more length to at least bother jump shots.

They aren't equally bad defenders. Believe it or not, Martin is actually worst. Neither Lamb nor Martin can create or handle the ball the way Harden could. Neither can get to the line as well as Harden can especially now that the league is enforcing the Kevin Martin Rule. And most of all, Harden has the rare ability to control the tempo/pace while handling the rock. Something that a lot of people overlook when comparing the trades.

I have no doubt that Martin will benefit from the trade and prove to be useful to the Thunders. But I do not believe in no way, shape, or form that Martin will have anywhere near the effect that Harden has on the Thunders. As for Lamb, The kid is unproven and will not be much of a factor this season as long as Martin, Thabo, and Cook are fighting for minutes.